July 4th Firework Safety Tips

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Everyone loves a good firework show- a warm summer night filled with beautiful bursts of colors taking over the sky. However if you don’t play it safe during the firework show it can go sour quickly. We’ve been reading and sharing stories, here at FatWallet HQ this week, of fireworks being shot into the sewer, into a pool liner, and back towards the house. All potentially dangerous (and expensive) blunders! We would hate to see you loose an eye, arm, leg, or any other body part. We are here to give you some tips on how to keep all of your parts where they should be.

Make sure your fireworks are legit

Buy your fireworks from a professional store. Do not accept fireworks in a brown paper bag from street vendors or just whoever. They could be improperly prepared, damaged, or old, which could make the firework detonate incorrectly.

Keep your distance

Just because you intend the firework to shoot straight up in the air does not guarantee it. You do not want any human body parts near an exploding firework. Not to mention the closer you are the louder it is, which could mean hearing loss.

Never make a human target

Do not aim, point or throw any fireworks at or towards yourself or another person. I think that one is self explanatory…we want everyone to keep their body parts where they are.

Don’t mess with the fuse

Never try to relight a fuse. This may mean the firework was made wrong, which could make it explode improperly. Plus chances are if your are trying to relight it; there is less fuse left meaning you have less time to move to a safe spot. If there is not a fuse, don’t try to make your own. There is no room for DYI fireworks.

Keep a bucket of water nearby

You need a safer place to put the used fireworks. This includes sparklers, which burn at about 2,000 degrees. This also prevents anyone stepping on it and any confusion. Or you may need it there for “just in case” reasons. Removing the possibility of a trash can fire is always nice too.

Remember 4th of July is a great time to ooh and ahh over the red, white, and blue sparkles raining from the sky. The 4th of July is not a time to see the red and white lights of an ambulance rushing to help you.